Sorkin's writing sucks. The dialogue is awful. All the characters are the same, they are Sorkin's puppets. The show is so smug, etc, etc.

I actually kind of see where these criticisms are coming from, I love The West Wing but having seen the Newsroom I've really gone off Sorkin. He's a very limited writers who does write the same characters over and over which isn't so bad but when you consider that every character has the same sense of humour and the same ability to have an extremely witty and smart ass retort to everything it becomes tiresome. He doesn't do stupid characters.

The Newsroom is ridiculously smug and preachy. Written about a sel-proclaimed Republican news anchor said anchor spends every episode having a go at the Republicans and their associated factions. I think it works in the West Wing because it is written from one side, the main characters are Democrats and meant to act like it. However in the Newsroom we know one character is meant to be Republican but the whole premise of the show is that they want to make an objective news show and it doesn't work.

You're in the basement because they're afraid of you, of your relentlessness and because they know that they could drop you in the middle of the desert, and tell you the truth is out there, and you'd ask them for a shovel!

With the recent annoucement that all 7 seasons of The West Wing are now available on Sky On Demand and Now TV, it feels an appropriate time to relaunch this thread. So, if you're new to the show, if you've decided to rewatch now its available on demand, or if you've never stopped rewatching the box sets, here's your chance to discuss and debate the greatest show ever to grace the airwaves!

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WWLD?

Every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless

I left in love, in laughter, and in truth and wherever truth, love and laughter abide, I am there in spirit.

Am just waiting to see the seventh season now. I thought the sixth went in some interesting directions, but in places was a bit too comic, and light, losing some of the sharp wit and depth of other seasons. I also thought they had added maybe a couple too many characters. But mostly I thought it was another strong season. Would say that the show was at its best from 3-5.

Got through the end of season 1 yesterday and first episode of season 2. So good to watch it all over again(again), must have been having an emotional day as I started to tear up when Josh goes down! :(

I've just started season 5 (rewatch). The first time around I didn't know Sorkin had left, I'm sort of seeing the difference this time though. Was Toby's thing about "we're just drifting" meant to reflect the show itself.

The one thing I don't like about this show is how it treats characters although I'm aware there were probably off screen issues at play. Sam's disappearance was obviously Lowe's choice, but I really liked Ainsley. I know Perry was probably only ever supposed to be a guest appearance but I would've like more of him. On the other hand I never warmed to Amy and don't know why they kept bringing her back.

Season 4 is my favourite. In terms of disappearing characters then surely no one matches Mandy? Series regular in season 1, then never heard of again. Think I read somewhere that they would have done more with Ainsley but basically lost Emily Procter to CSI Miami. And I love Amy!

Season 4 is my favourite. In terms of disappearing characters then surely no one matches Mandy? Series regular in season 1, then never heard of again. Think I read somewhere that they would have done more with Ainsley but basically lost Emily Procter to CSI Miami. And I love Amy!

Strange thing about Mandy is that she was actually in the scene when the Limo was shot at in the finale of season one (sorry if that is a spoiler but i assume most people have seen that far), and you just don't see her again. No big loss IMO she wasn't a great character, Donna is much better as was the actress.

Could have done more with Ainsley not least because she represented the other side of politics. And yes Amy does indeed rock!

Nearly at the end of the final season, and first off all I must say that Janeane Garofalo really isn't in enough things and I just love her part in this! They do seem to be over doing the plain goth girl thing with the look of her character which maybe just to keep the character as a respectable inderpendent woman.

Anyway, Season Seven has really seen the show get back on track after a slightly up and down Sixth year, and for me this is one of the best seasons of the lot. Just love all the subplots concerning the Election, and the performances of Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda oposing each other has been fantastic. Again some of the details and moral dialmas for example with the brief case innicident are really interesting.

Finished the West Wing the other day and thought was really satisfyed with the final season, which I think was one of its best. I thought things might fall a bit flat, following the election, but it managed to keep me hooked right til the end. Am planning a revisit of the whole thing soon!

I'm on my 3rd or 4th re run and nearing the end of season 3. One of my favourite donna momemnts was on last night from 'Dead Irish Writers'. When drinking with the First Lady, CJ & Amy and she hits out with an off the cuff remark about Abbey being a doctor whilst she was self medicatiing the President. Love that scene!

I'm on my 3rd or 4th re run and nearing the end of season 3. One of my favourite donna momemnts was on last night from 'Dead Irish Writers'. When drinking with the First Lady, CJ & Amy and she hits out with an off the cuff remark about Abbey being a doctor whilst she was self medicatiing the President. Love that scene!

Remember that, really just shows you what a well rounded character Donna is. Just love the batter between and the will they won't they stuff with her and Josh. It is a credit to the writing and actors that it keeps you guessing whether they will get together and also that I wanted them to get together.

Whilst I'm happy to see the high placings for Amy and Nancy, Josh and Donna are way too low and Margaret much too high. Good read though and a reminder of how many great characters there were in small roles.

Whilst I'm happy to see the high placings for Amy and Nancy, Josh and Donna are way too low and Margaret much too high. Good read though and a reminder of how many great characters there were in small roles.

That's mad, I finished my rewatch today.

One of the things I did notice was how CJ came front and center in the later seasons, which I hadn't really noticed before. I suppose it was necessary with all the cast shifting around. I would put Oliver Babbish a lot higher on the list, swap him with Amy maybe who I never took to.

Think CJ is one of the outstanding characters of the show maybe any series, and a great female character, (sadly things like this still need highlighting sometimes). Alison Janny really is one of my favourite current actresses and manages to steal so many films even in smaller parts.

Having only watched the West Wing from start to finish once, it is a bit hard for me to rank things such as episodes and characters just yet, but will take a look at the article anyway.

Think CJ is one of the outstanding characters of the show maybe any series, and a great female character, (sadly things like this still need highlighting sometimes). Alison Janny really is one of my favourite current actresses and manages to steal so many films even in smaller parts.

Having only watched the West Wing from start to finish once, it is a bit hard for me to rank things such as episodes and characters just yet, but will take a look at the article anyway.

Think CJ is one of the outstanding characters of the show maybe any series, and a great female character, (sadly things like this still need highlighting sometimes). Alison Janny really is one of my favourite current actresses and manages to steal so many films even in smaller parts.

Having only watched the West Wing from start to finish once, it is a bit hard for me to rank things such as episodes and characters just yet, but will take a look at the article anyway.

Dunno if you've seen it but she's amazing in Masters Of Sex.

No one I need to catch, and didn't even know she was in it, so naturely now want to see it even more

Think CJ is one of the outstanding characters of the show maybe any series, and a great female character, (sadly things like this still need highlighting sometimes). Alison Janny really is one of my favourite current actresses and manages to steal so many films even in smaller parts.

Having only watched the West Wing from start to finish once, it is a bit hard for me to rank things such as episodes and characters just yet, but will take a look at the article anyway.

Dunno if you've seen it but she's amazing in Masters Of Sex.

No one I need to catch, and didn't even know she was in it, so naturely now want to see it even more

She's not in every episode, but when she is … woah!! It's a fantastic show anyway though